What It Costs to Fire a Head Coach

You know things are bad for the University of Colorado athletics department when the program is too broke to fire its own football coach.

Boulder’s Daily Camera recently reported that firing the seemingly hapless Dan Hawkins could cost up to $3 million, which doesn’t include the cost of hiring a new coach.

Part of the problem is the school is still digging out from underneath an $8 million loan it took out, in part to pay off Gary Barnett, CU’s last head football coach. The team dropped its first two games this season, the latest being last Friday’s 54-38 beatdown at the hands of Toledo.

Husker Extra writes that CU is the “biggest loser” of the Big 12 conference, pointing to the 624 yards given up to Toledo as the most CU has given up in 25 years. It’s clear there are big problems with this football team. Hawkins has said CU would win 10 games this year, but I’m not sure they could beat 10 5A high school teams across Colorado, let alone compete in a conference with Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State.

Don’t think this won’t impact recruiting. The Camera quotes one tailback recruit who’s rethinking his commitment.

“I mean it’s obvious. They lost to, like, Toledo and Colorado State in the last couple weeks,” says Mister Jones, of Littleton High School.

Count on Jones’ sentiments representing, like, the majority of players who once were considering CU.